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THE ‘INDO-PACIFIC’ CONCEPT: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT
Since 2010, the concept of ‘Indo-Pacific’ has gained increasing prevalence in the geopolitical/ strategic discourse, and is now being used increasingly by policy-makers, analysts and academics in Asia and beyond.[1] It is now precisely a decade since the concept was proposed by the author in 2007. Although the Australians were using this term earlier, it […]
THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE: MOVING TOWARDS A MILITARY SHOWDOWN?
On 16 December 2016, the USNS Bowditch was conducting oceanic survey, 50 nautical miles (NM) northwest of Subic Bay, Philippines. As part of these operations, the vessel had deployed two Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUV), which as per the Pentagon, were being used in an unclassified program to collect oceanographic data. While the Bowditch was preparing […]
BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT (BWM) CONVENTION: LATE IMPLEMENTATION, HUGE IMPACT
Ballast water is used to stabilize the ships and is essential for the hydrodynamic safety of the ship. Ships fill in ballast water in their tanks after unloading the cargo at the destination port and then discharge it prior to reaching the source port. During this process, a large number of marine organisms such as […]
WILL DONALD TRUMP REBALANCE THE ‘REBALANCE’?
On 20 January 2017, Mr Donald Trump assumes office as the 45th President of the United States (U.S.). Six years ago in 2011, his predecessor, President Barak Obama launched the ‘Rebalance to Asia’. Among the key objectives of the policy were to engage with the economically rising Asia-Pacific, maintain U.S. supremacy in this […]
IMOS VIEWS ON SHIPPING AND INDIA’S SAGARMALA: EXAMINING THE CONVERGENCES
Introduction The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has selected – ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People’- as the World Maritime Day theme for 2017.[1] The theme for 2016 was – ‘Shipping: indispensable to the world’.[2] The purpose of selecting these themes is to spell out the manner in which shipping impacts the everyday lives of ordinary people […]
CPEC DRIVES CHINA-PAKISTAN NAVAL COOPERATION
An International Maritime Conference on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port was held on 13-14 December 2016 at Gwadar. It was organised by the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) on the theme – ‘CPEC and Gwadar Port as Harbinger of Regional Integration and Maritime Economic Development.’ Officials from China and Iran were […]
THE MARITIME DIMENSION IN SAARC: REDEFINING RELATIONS
Introduction On 8 December 2016, the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC regional institutions and the academia observed the 32nd SAARC Charter Day. 1 It was on this day in 1985 that the first SAARC Summit was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the regional organisation was […]
EVALUATING RECENT POLICY CHANGES ON COASTAL SHIPPING
Introduction Coastal shipping is a characteristic observed in coastal and island countries for centuries as compared to other modes of transport. It is an energy-efficient, environment-friendly and inexpensive mode of transport. A key component for the development of domestic industry and trade, coastal shipping is largely used for transportation of goods, followed by passengers. In […]
IMO DECISIONS TO ENHANCE THE BLUE ECONOMY
The 70th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) was held from 24-28 October 2016, at International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Headquarters in London. The meeting adopted key decisions which are likely to have a long-lasting effect on the marine environment and would contribute to enhancing the Blue Economy. Among these, three landmark decisions deserve […]
MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO: CONCERNS, IMPACTS AND WAY FORWARD
Introduction Diego Garcia is a highly guarded military base of the United States and strategically situated between East Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, making it a vital outpost for basing US naval forces and projecting air and naval power into the region. In 1966, the United Kingdom signed an agreement with the United States, […]
CHINA’S ‘UNDERSEA GREAT WALL’ PROJECT: IMPLICATIONS
Introduction Over the last few decades, the Chinese government has invested in a number of projects to strengthen the country’s security and safeguard its interests particularly in the maritime domain. One of the major areas that the Chinese government is focusing on is deep sea exploration. Although efforts of the Chinese government for the capacity […]